SNACKS & STORIES. The Chippewa Area History Center (12 Bridgewater Ave.) will once again host its recurring “Lunch and Learning” sessions on from 11am-1:30pm on the first Wednesday of each month. As with other programming at the history center, series will offer hands-on activities that dive into niche topics – all while enjoying a meal.

Got a free lunch hour coming up? The Chippewa Area History Center is serving up some fun (with a side of history) during its “Lunch and Learning” sessions on the first Wednesday of each month.

The Chippewa County Historical Society – which supports the greater Chippewa area and the history center in Chippewa Falls (12 Bridgewater Ave.) – was established in 1969 by community volunteers dedicated to preserving local archives.

Fast forward to 2023, the same collective of volunteers aided the inception of the current Chippewa Area History Center, a multi-million dollar facility where stories and artifacts of the region’s past have found a home.

Today, the new history center remains rooted in its mission to offer Chippewa Valley visitors accessible ways to engage with the community – making it possible for more locals to experience their shared history through interactive experiences.

As with other programming at the Chippewa Area History Center, the “Lunch and Learning” series will offer hands-on activities which dive into niche topics – brought to life by community volunteers – all while enjoying a meal provided by staff.

The series kicked off its return in the new year with an exploration of the Chippewa County Historical Society’s photo archives. Facilitated by Sally Young, a historian in the area, the event “peeled back the curtain” to reveal iconic imagery from Chippewa County’s history.

Tickets for each of the monthly lunchtime events are $12/person for members of the Chippewa County Historical Society and $18/person for non-members.

The price for each event – the next one slated from 11:30am-1:30pm on Wednesday, Feb. 4 – covers both admission to the museum for the day and lunch, including a drink. Payments directly contribute to future educational offerings like the Lunch and Learning program at the Chippewa Area History Center.

Images of local history on display at the Chippewa Area History Center, pictured above. To kick off the new year, on Jan. 7 the "Lunch and Learning" session offered attendees the chance to view archival photographs from the Chippewa Valley.

To reserve your spot for any of the upcoming Lunch and Learning programs, call the Chippewa Area History Center at 715-723-4399. Monthly topics and guest speakers are shared on a rolling basis through the center’s Facebook page (@ChippewaAreaHistoryCenter).